The Development Abuja is Yet to See

By Aisha Ibrahim Halilu

There is something deeply unsettling about commuting in Nigeria’s capital city. For many residents, getting from home to work is not a matter of routine—it is a daily ordeal. And for a city that was built from scratch to represent the pride, order, and unity of a nation, this failure is not just unfortunate. It is unacceptable.

Abuja was envisioned as the one city in Nigeria that would rise above the dysfunctions that plague many others. A model of efficiency. A seat of government that would inspire progress. Yet more than forty years later, the capital still lacks a basic necessity—an efficient, reliable, and inclusive public transportation system.

What passes for public transit in Abuja today is nothing short of chaos. Every day, workers pour in from satellite towns like Nyanya, Mararaba, Gwagwalada, Kubwa, and Kuje. They squeeze into overloaded buses and rickety taxis, exposed to reckless driving, insecurity, and long, exhausting hours in traffic.

For a city of its status, Abuja moves with shocking disorder. The failure of the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company left a gaping hole. In its place rose a patchwork of informal operators, unregulated cabs, and ride-hailing apps that are priced far beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.

And though the light rail system—built at enormous cost—was meant to ease this burden, it has barely scratched the surface. Years after its launch, it remains largely inactive, inaccessible, and underutilized. The implications of this breakdown are not limited to mere inconvenience.

There are real economic, social, and security consequences. Time lost in transit is time lost in productivity. The financial strain on low-income earners deepens inequality. Unsafe, unregulated transport options expose women and young people to harassment and violence. And the sheer number of ageing, fuel-guzzling vehicles on the road adds to the environmental cost.

A functioning mass transit system could change everything. It would make daily life easier for the majority, connect the city more meaningfully, reduce accidents and emissions, and even stimulate business growth. Roads alone are not enough.

Without accessible, affordable, and safe transport options, they serve only a privileged few. There is also a pressing need to rethink what development truly means. Building roads and erecting monuments may beautify the city, but if the people who clean offices, teach children, and staff the hospitals cannot afford to get to work, then the city is not truly working.

Infrastructure must serve people, not just impress visitors. Security would also improve with a proper transit network. Organized systems allow for better regulation, surveillance, and enforcement. In many world capitals, public transport is a tool for crime prevention and public order. Abuja should be no different.

This is not a problem of ideas or resources. It is a problem of will. A capital city of this magnitude cannot continue to treat transportation as an afterthought. The cost of doing nothing grows heavier every day. Abuja deserves better. Its people deserve better. No citizen should wake up dreading how they will get to work or return home.

If we are serious about development, then we must begin with the systems that touch ordinary lives. The promise of Abuja was not just in its grand architecture or wide roads. It was in the idea of a city that works—for everyone.

*Aisha Ibrahim Halilu is a Mass Communication student of Nile University, Abuja, who is on internship at PRNigeria. She can be reached at: [email protected].*